The Price of ƒ я e e d o м
A PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN FANFICTION

The Price of ƒ я e e d o м © xoxoMyRealityIsFiction
Pirates of the Caribbean © Disney
Ayisha/Amenirdis © A.C. Crispin

Scene Twelve:
He Loves Me. He Loves Me Not?

Ayisha slowly inched away from Barbossa while Jack climbed up the hill of gold, but Barbossa only pulled her back, roughly grabbing her elbow and yanking her to his chest. Glowering up at him, she noticed that his heated gaze was fixated on Jack's figure. Jack was halting his ritual yet again. Though, Ayisha wondered if Jack's words were true: that Norrington and the Royal Navy were floating offshore on the Dauntless; or if he was just pulling another one of his schemes.

"Just hear me out, mate. You order your men to row out to the Dauntless. They do what they do best." The crew of the Pearl all chuckled in agreement at Jack's statement, Ayisha's face falling in concern. What was Jack pulling? "Robert's your Uncle, Fannie's your Aunt – there you are with two ships. The makings of your very own fleet. 'Course you'll take the grandest as your flagship, and who's to argue? But what of the Pearl? ... Name me Captain, and I'll sail under your colours, I'll give you ten percent of me plunder and you get to introduce yourself as, Commodore Barbossa. Savvy?" Jack grinned in satisfaction, his thumbs hitching inside of his pistol holster.

Ayisha gaped. All of this, just to get the Pearl back? What lengths was Jack willing to go to be the captain of the Black Pearl again? Suddenly, she didn't feel so secure about him anymore. She looked up at Barbossa with wide, fearful eyes, wondering on what his decision would be. Would he take Jack's offer? But what of her? What if Barbossa agreed, but only if he got to keep her? Would Jack agree to that deal? Ayisha's heart dropped at the thought.

"I s'pose in exchange, you want me not to kill the whelp," said Barbossa, eyeing Jack with uncertainty.

"No, no, not at all – by all means, kill the whelp." Jack waved his hand dismissively in Will's direction. Ayisha passed quick glances at Will, seeing him bristle and struggle against the hold of Bo'sun. "Just not yet," Jack continued. "Wait to lift the curse until the opportune moment. For instance–" Jack dipped his hand into the chest containing the Aztec gold and scooped some of the medallions out, dropping them back into the chest one by one, his face serious "–after you've killed Norrington's men. Every. Last. One."

The color drained from Ayisha's face.

Jack never killed unless it was the only option left. But, now, he was going to let Barbossa's cursed, un-killable, men kill innocent soldiers that were just doing as ordered. And that's when Ayisha found that her fear about Jack came true. The man that she fell in love with … no longer existed. Now … there was nothing left but a measly pirate.

Ayisha, again, was yanked to Barbossa's chest. "I get to keep the girl," he stated firmly, as if there were no option for Jack to disagree. Ayisha's jaw slacked, her wide eyes veered to Jack. He was going to say 'no', she knew it. She just knew it. He had to. But the look on his face caused her eyes to water. Why hadn't he said 'no' yet? Was he actually thinking about it? Ayisha shook her head in disbelief at Jack.

"… agreed."

Ayisha's heart shattered into a million pieces, the unshed tears in her eyes burning. She locked gazes with Jack, wondering why – how? – he would do something like this to her. She did everything for him! She gave up her throne – her life – for him, and he traded her off for a wretched boat? Ayisha broke the gaze between her and Jack, her body slumping in defeat, counting on Barbossa to hold up her entire weight, but he didn't, and her body sagged down on the golden hill, her loose hair shrouding her dejected face.

"We have an accord." Barbossa's laugh of triumph bounced off of the walls of the cave. Ayisha tuned in out and out, getting lost in her erratic thoughts. Barbossa then ordered his men to take care of Norrington and the Dauntless, the low chanting and shuffling of the crew of the Pearl leaving the cave barely audible to Ayisha's ears.

How could he do this to me? I thought… Ayisha's lips trembled, tears trailing down her cheeks, droplet by droplet, and falling down onto the skirt of the maroon dress. She sniffled wetly but didn't move to wipe away a single drop. A glint of light in front of her face interrupted Ayisha's thoughts. Looking up, her face still hidden behind her long dark locks, she was surprised to see Barbossa dangling a beautiful piece of jewelry in her line of sight. It was a gold necklace, a trail of diamonds leading to a large, oval ruby at the center. Lifting her head at the sight of the necklace, Barbossa brushed aside her hair and then put the necklace around her neck,

"Only the best for my woman." He smirked, and then lifted Ayisha's still shaking hand, slipping on a ring that matched the necklace perfectly: a large ruby at the center, surrounded by diamonds. And the corner of Ayisha's lips rose slightly at his kindness. She never knew that he had a romantic side. When he would try to get her attention while he was the first mate on board the Black Pearl, he only tried to show off in front of her by giving her the biggest and most expensive things he'd stolen. Never did he treat her like he was doing just now.

A loud crash broke Barbossa and Ayisha's 'intimate' moment. Ayisha turned her head to the side to see Jack fumbling with various treasures from Barbossa's previous plunders. She glared at him when he faced her and Barbossa, inwardly delighted when she saw him lock his jaw at the sight of her and the mutineer.

Serves him right, Ayisha thought, turning her nose up and into the air in a snobbish manner.

"Pick anything ye like, my dear. What's mine is yours." Barbossa's finger tips lingered across Ayisha's chin before he got up from his kneeling position, passing Jack a pompous grin.

Ayisha bit her bottom lip, eyes scanning across the piles of treasure filling the cave. Anything she liked, eh? She wasn't a greedy woman, but she liked that she could have a variety of things. During her sweep, mentally picking out the things she wanted, her eyes landed on Will, who was still held captive. She frowned. Will caught her eye, his eyes filled with an emotion Ayisha couldn't name. And then suddenly it hit her, like a ripple passing through her body, causing her to silently gasp.

Something was afoot.

As she was sharply rising to her feet, that was when it happened. A loud splash caught her attention– she snapped her head in its direction, and saw Jack kick a pirate down, and then throw Will the sword in which he took from said pirate. Jack then lunged in her direction, but Barbossa blocked his path. Ayisha yelped and fell back onto the pile of gold at the sudden move.

Barbossa and Jack clashed blades. Each had the same amount of expertise … but Barbossa couldn't die …

"Ayisha!" shouted Will.

Ayisha switched her gaze from Jack and Barbossa, to Will, just in time to catch the hilt of a sword in mid-flight. At first, Ayisha didn't move and just stared at the blade in her hand in confusion, not knowing what to do. But her mind was made up for her when another pirate that had stayed behind, attacked her. She was just in time to block his blade from coming overhead.

"Don't attack her ye fool!" Barbossa managed to shout while still in combat with Jack. "Get the boy! Get the boy!"

The pirate halted in his actions, but stared at Ayisha, as if daring her to make a move. And in response, Ayisha dropped the sword from her hand, it clanking to the ground, causing the pirate to grin at her and then do as ordered – "getting the boy."

Ayisha looked back at Will, seeing him now in combat with three pirates, but he seemed to be holding his own well enough. She then looked back at the still fighting pair, Jack and Barbossa. Her breathing grew heavy, her mind going awry. What was going on? She didn't know what to do. If there was some sort of plan, why wasn't she included? Did Jack give her away to Barbossa, or not?

And then, as if it were in slow motion, Barbossa knocked Jack to the ground. He tossed his sword to the side and boasted about the fact that he couldn't die – that Jack couldn't kill him, so whatever he was doing, was futile. Jack rose to his feet and stabbed Barbossa, right in the chest, where his heart should have been. But all Barbossa did was stumble back a bit, and then looked down at the sword sticking out of his body. He sighed, his shoulders slumping as he looked at Jack in exasperation. He then, in a swift, jerky movement, yanked the sword out of his body and stabbed Jack in the same spot in which Jack stabbed him … in the chest.

"NO!" Ayisha screamed out at the top of her lungs. "JACK!"

Again, it was like everything was in slow motion. She ran towards Jack as he was stumbling back, but her feet weren't moving as fast as she willed them to be. And in that moment, when she thought that he was going to die right in front of her, Ayisha felt as if her whole world came crumbling down, again. But this time, it hurt ten times more than him handing her over to Barbossa.

Ayisha skidded to a stop, nearly tripping over the many layers of her dress – Jack had stumbled back into a beam of moonlight, but instead of him remaining full bodied and near death, his clothes were tattered and his bones glowed eerily in the moonlight.

A golden medallion skilfully ran across his fingers.

"So that was his plan all along," Ayisha whispered to herself, not knowing if she should be happy, or mad. Will seemed to know of the plan. How come she didn't?

"Ayisha!" called Will, again.

Ayisha looked back and forth between Jack and Barbossa, who had begun fighting again, and Will, who seemed to be having trouble in fending off the three pirates. And she, although still livid, picked up the sword that she dropped and left Jack to handle Barbossa, going to aid Will – however, she tripped over the blasted dress, again, staggering to remain on her feet. That was exactly why she didn't like to wear anything that wasn't originated from Kerma. Huffing, Ayisha began to hastily cut at the many layers of the dress. Sighing in satisfaction, the dress now reaching just above her knees, she darted forward again, shouting out a battle cry as she attacked the pirate that was coming up from behind Will.

"It's about time." Will's breath was ragged; he and Ayisha were now back to back as they fended off the three pirates.

"I was a bit conflicted for the moment," Ayisha answered, blocking another attack. "We cannot win you know."

"We just have to hold them off awhile longer," Will grunted, but then Ayisha felt his back go rigid. "Oh, no. Duck!"

"What?" asked Ayisha, but Will already tackled her to the ground, a loud boom sounding a few feet away from them. Broken pieces of gold and silver trickled down on them like rain. Ayisha lifted her head, blowing strands of hair away from her face as she scrambled back up and onto her feet. Will stood right beside her, she having lost her sword, and then realized that he, too, lost his sword. Great.

"I'm gonna teach you the meaning of pain," said a pirate, grinning evilly, lifting his sword over his head, ready to strike.

Ayisha gripped the sleeve of Will's tunic, ready for the blow, but an unlikely voice that she hadn't expected to hear for the rest of her life, intervened–

"Do you like pain?" Elizabeth asked, coming to the rescue, and smacked the pirate over the head with a heavy looking staff. "Try wearing a corset," she added as the pirate fell to the ground in a heap, smiling at Will, and he vice versa. Ayisha felt as if she were in the way as Will and Elizabeth shared that loving gaze. She smiled softly. She wished Jack looked at her like that …

A loud roar jolted Ayisha from her thoughts; a pirate was charging straight at her with club of some sort, and before she could react, her head snapped in the direction of the blow inflicted on her. She fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes, and her vision went black.

– JACK –

Jack stared down at the stiff body of Barbossa, just to make sure that he was really dead. Blood soaked through the grim covered tunic, his eyes open and vacant of any signs of life. Hovering over Barbossa, Jack knelt down and picked up the green apple that had fallen from his hand. "Sorry 'bout that, mate." Jack patted Barbossa's shoulder. "But I wasn't about to let you run me over again." Jack then spotted something else – something shiny – that was peeking out from the pocket flap of Barbossa's coat. And Jack, loving shiny things, naturally, removed the shiny object from his pocket. He froze, his hand balling into a tight fist around the delicate piece of jewelry.

A diamond ring.

Ayisha. Barbossa must have really loved her. That damn bloody scallywag, he's making him look bad.

Jack lifted his head, searching the cave for the woman who had stuck with him through thick and thin. Put up with all of his wrongs. The woman who he had yet to tell his true feelings about. It was a miracle that she hadn't left him yet. A pang of guilt formed in the pit of his stomach as he remembered the look of anguish on Ayisha's face when he told Barbossa that he could have her in exchange for the Pearl. He didn't mean it. He would never give Ayisha up for anything. Not even for the Black Pearl … right? Jack felt disgusted with himself when he felt mixed feelings about the thought of choosing between the Black Pearl and Ayisha. Did he really love the Pearl more than he did Ayisha?

Did he even love Ayisha?

Jack halted in his steps; his last thought hung in the air as he spotted something that made his stomach churn. He shook his head in disbelief, thinking that he was just imagining the sight before him. There, on a mountain of treasure, lay the limp body of the woman he was just thinking about: her head was turned to the side, facing away from him, and her hair sprawled in all directions. Her arms were spread open at her sides, her bare legs bent in awkward looking positions – but that wasn't the part that made the color drain from Jack's face: blood lightly trailed down the side of Ayisha's face.

Jack dropped heavily to his knees, his hands retracting every time he attempted to touch her. He was afraid that she might feel cold. Sucking it up, Jack tentatively touched the opposite side of Ayisha's cheek, turning her head around so that he could have a clear view of her face.

"Ayisha?" Jack lifted the sleeve of his tunic to the middle of his palm, gingerly wiping the blood from Ayisha's forehead. "Darlin', it's time to wake up – everything's over." Jack gulped when Ayisha remained motionless. "I didn't mean it, love. I would never…" Jack trailed off. He didn't know how to complete that sentence since he, himself, didn't know if he would actually trade her for the Pearl. He didn't even want to think about choosing between his beloved Pearl and Ayisha.

"Wake up, darlin'." Jack's lips twitched, trying to form a smile as he stared down at his beautiful Ayisha. He brushed aside some of the hair sticking to her face, grimacing at the sight of clotting blood on the side of her head. He should have watched over her better. If he had, she wouldn't be in this state. She would be awake and well, smiling at him, and telling him that she always knew he would do the right thing.

"Jack?" the tentative voice of Elizabeth asked.

Jack looked over his shoulder towards Will and Elizabeth, the limp form of Ayisha in his arms. "She's fine," he replied. "She's just … got hit a little too hard and is … resting."

"We should take her back to the Dauntless, for proper care. We have a doctor on-board," said Elizabeth.

"No, we'll take her back to the Pearl," argued Jack, rising to his feet with Ayisha in his arms.

"Jack…" Elizabeth glanced at Will before frowning at Jack. "The Black Pearl … she's gone. I tried to make them come and help, but … they took the ship and left. I'm sorry, Jack."

Jack's fingers curled around the thick fabric of Ayisha's dress, his jaw visibly locking in place. What bloody timing to abandon him! "They done what's right by them. Can't expect more than that." Jack spoke in a monotone tone.

Blasted pirates.

– X –

"She'll be fine, Jack," Will tried to encourage as he rowed the boat to the Dauntless, but Jack could hear the tone behind Will's words of encouragement; he, too, was worried for Ayisha.

Jack, never looking up from Ayisha's still frame, smiled slightly. "Aye. She'll be fine. Just fine and dandy for her to wake up- only to be hanged for being around a pirate."

"I'll do all I can, Jack," Elizabeth spoke softly, placing a comforting hand on Jack's. His hand rested on Ayisha's thigh, his forearm still tucked underneath her legs.

"It won't do any good; but you already knew that, didn't you?" The corner of Jack's lips rose as he looked up at Elizabeth, seeing the look of despair on her young face. "Don't waste your time on me, love. I deserve to be sent to the gallows. Just do what you can for Ayisha."

"… I heard that."

– AYISHA –

Ayisha groggily opened her eyes, trying to ignore the dull, pulsating pain on the side of her head. She blinked up at Jack, smiling weakly at him.

"I knew that–" she gulped, her throat feeling dry "–that you wouldn't fail me. I'm– I'm sorry that I doubted you. I should– I should have known about your plan. I should have felt it." But since her emotions got the best of her, they clouded her judgment – her sixth sense. That was the only downside of her ability. She always had to keep a clear head in order to naturally use it.

"Quiet, darlin', you need to reserve your strength to get better," said Jack, not letting Ayisha budge from his hold.

The boat stopped rocking, and Ayisha, much to her displeasure and pain, turned her head to the side, seeing the tall wall of neatly polished wood. "The Pearl?" she questioned out loud, her tone hoarse. Jack just grinned down at her in response, Ayisha noticing the look in his eye. They weren't going to the Pearl…

After difficultly climbing onboard of the Dauntless, Ayisha, with her arms wrapped around Jack's neck for leverage, eyed the many naval soldiers surrounding them once they got onto the main deck. Jack's grip on her tightened, as did hers around his neck.

"Mr. Sparrow. I thought that you would have been smarter enough not to show your face in front of me ever again." Commodore Norrington, stepped through the crowd, his hands neatly folded behind his back. "Gillette, fetch some irons," he called over his shoulder.

"Commodore, please, Ayisha needs help. She has been injured," Elizabeth intervened, standing protectively in front of Jack and Ayisha.

"And why should I help a pirate? Look, Elizabeth, I've already stepped out of line when I came here, to save Will, upon your request. I cannot do any more favors. The Black Pearl got away, but we've got most of the crew locked in the cells below deck. It's time that we head back to Port Royal to plan further pursuit of that ship, and begin the process of punishment for these pirates." Norrington cast Jack and Ayisha a distasteful look. By this time, Ayisha was already torn away from Jack, both having irons clasped around their wrists.

"What about, Mr. Turner, Commodore?" Gillette asked, standing next to Will, with some irons in his hands.

"Put him with the rest," Norrington answered, passing a glance at Elizabeth.

"What? No! Father?" Elizabeth exclaimed, spinning around in the direction of Governor Swann, with pleading eyes.

"I'm sorry, Elizabeth, but he has broken the law," the governor responded, regretfully.

Ayisha was grabbed by two navy soldiers, and when she looked at them, she gawked when she noticed that they were the exact same officers that helped them save Elizabeth from drowning,

"Sorry 'bout this, Miss," the lanky solider mumbled in Ayisha's ear as he and the portly man led her below deck,

"Yes, we are just doin' as we're ordered," the portly one added.

"I want to go into the one with her," Jack spoke up after Ayisha was placed into a separate cell away from the original crew of the Pearl. But the navy officer leading him, ignored him, and shoved him into the cramp cell, anyway, locking it soon after. Jack pressed his body against the metal bars, standing closer to Will's silent form, eyeing the crew of the Pearl, who were glaring at him. "Fine evening we're having, eh, gentlemen?"

Ayisha leaned against the bars, frowning in sorrow for Will, as she stared at his back that was facing in her direction, his arms crossed over his chest, head tilted down towards the floor. He hadn't said a word since they boarded the Dauntless. He was so sad about Elizabeth. Ayisha knew exactly how he felt. Pressing her hot forehead against the cool metal, she let out a soft groan of pain; or at least she thought it was soft. She was beginning to feel dizzy, the wound on the back of her head burning in an uncomfortable way,

"Ayisha? Ye all right?" Jack's voice sounded dull, barely audible to Ayisha's ears. "Ayisha, speak to me."

"Jack?" Ayisha whispered, sliding down to floor, her vision going black for the second time that day.

"Amenirdis? Amenirdis, wake up." Someone patted Ayisha's cheek, and Ayisha blinked open her eyes, immediately shutting them due to the bright light that cast down on her from above. "Amenirdis, we haven't much time– you must wake up."

"M-mother?" Ayisha sat up, staring at her mother in confusion. "What is going on?"

"You're dying, my sweet," Tiyy answered, smiling solemnly. "You've caught a fever, and if your wound isn't cared for immediately, you will die. But that isn't why I called for you. I know that you will live on. You are strong, my daughter." Tiyy lovingly cupped Ayisha's cheek, rubbing her thumb across her cheek. "But, I cannot control the will of the Gods. And just in case you do pass on, I wanted you to know that your father and I love you very much. As does Aniba and Shabako." Tiyy sighed. "It is time that your father and I retire the throne. We are old in age, and it is time that we pass on our title of Pharaoh or Queen to either Shabako and yourself … that is, if you wish to have it."

Ayisha continued to stare at her mother with wide eyes. "Mother… I …"

"I know." Tiyy smiled softly. "Your destiny lies somewhere else. But you can't blame a mother for trying."

"I …" Ayisha paused. "I will think about it."

"Of course you will." Tiyy then stared up at the vacant sky. "It is time. I must let you go."

"I love you, Mother."

"I love you, too, Amenirdis."

Feeling something damp draped across her forehead, Ayisha woke up and faced her side. She stayed silent as Elizabeth removed the wet cloth from her forehead and then dipped it into a basin of water. She noted that the white cloth was tinged pink. Licking her dry lips, shifting underneath the many layers of blankets, Ayisha took in the clothing Elizabeth was doting. It was much different from what Ayisha had gotten used to seeing the young woman in. The dress hugged Elizabeth's subtle curves perfectly, the sleeve reaching her elbows, and a white, lacy material hung loosely off the edges. To say the least, Miss. Swann wore a dress better than Ayisha ever could.

"The doctor said that you were lucky," Elizabeth broke the silence, dabbing Ayisha's forehead with the white cloth. "If Jack and Will hadn't yelled for the guards, you would have died. Apparently, you wound was bleeding more than it seemed." Elizabeth locked eyes with Ayisha, her thin, pink lips forming a frown. "I'm sorry. I wish I could have helped you sooner, so all of this could have been prevented, but, apparently no one listens to women these days. I still had to beg for the Commodore to allow you to receive help from our doctor after the guards answered Jack and Will's shouts."

"And I'm sorry that you have to marry him." Ayisha's voice came out airy and hoarse.

Elizabeth chuckled, "Yes. As am I. He is a fine man indeed, but …"

"You love Will," Ayisha finished.

"Yes. Yes, I suppose I do, don't I?" Elizabeth smiled softly. "May I ask you a question?" Elizabeth continued to gently dab Ayisha's forehead with the wet cloth, and Ayisha nodded. "How do you do it? Though I've only known you for but a few days, I saw how you reacted when you thought of Jack dead. And I've been around Mr. Sparrow enough times to know that he will never settle down with any woman– if I may be so bold to say. You are … Jack does not deserve someone like you."

"Love, Miss. Swann," Ayisha answered with a soft smile of her own. "And tolerance. Love and tolerance." She and Elizabeth shared a laugh. "May I give you advice of my own?" she asked, her eyelids growing heavy.

"I welcome it."

"Go with your heart. I left my home, my family, and my people to be with Jack. And I do not regret my adventures with him." Elizabeth dropped the cloth that was in her hand, and Ayisha gulped, throat dry, smiling as best as she could at Elizabeth, remembering how she met Jack, and how she had grown to love him. "At first, I thought much like you do of him..."

(A/N) Authors Note: Next chapter, to not rouse any confusion, will be a flashback of how Ayisha met Jack :) (Which will be a whole, new, chapter that I am inserting into the fanfic).

I really appreciate every single one of you who are reading, even if most don't leave a review. The many alerts and favorites still let me know that you like this fanfic to some extent.

For those who were reading my other fanfic, 'Earth Girls are Easy', and notice that it is gone, it is because something happened. I have no clue why it's gone, since I did not delete it, but I sent an e-mail to the site and am waiting for a response. Hopefully I was not hacked, and it was just some sort of glitch. I am sorry if you thought that I delete it again, but I did not.

Please review if you can :3